Suspended in Time

Holy Saturday, the Vigil of Easter, is often called the "Forgotten Day", the day suspended in time, the "in-between day" between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  While some may keep Good Friday as a day of silence to ponder Jesus' sacrificial love, most become busy with the frenetic activity of Easter preparations.  Monateries have  for centuries observed this "suspended in time" day in prayer and silence from Holy Thursday through Holy Saturday.  But, as Thomas Merton often said, it can get quite busy inside the monastery walls. So we did have to stop a while to prepare for tomorrows glorious feast.

The tables are decorated

The Easter Eggs are ready

The Easter bread is ready

"The kindling is ready for the Easter fire

The Easter lilies are all lined up ready to be taken

to the chapel altar

The staff have prepared the Easter dinner for tomorrow

The grounds have been mowed



And now it's time to go to this "mother of all Vigils."

Tune in later for more.

This is my favorite celebration, but I cannot adequately put into words why it is so special to me.  It's like it is a mystery.  It's one of those deep down things that one just experiences and knows the "is-ness" of it.  The liturgy is so rich, so full of symbolism, that the heart and mind cannot absorb it all.  The "suspended in time" mode just immerses one in the Presence.  Tonight's service started at 8pm and was over at 10pm, I think.  We had a little party afterwards.  It is now 12:28 am and I cannot think anymore.  The only thing I can do is to download some more pictures and a video that will reflect the four aspects of the Vigil service- The Service of Light, Liturgy of the Word (video of the first day of the creation story-but if this takes 2hrs to download, it might not be posted until tomorrow), Liturgy of Baptism, and Liturgy of the Eucharist.

 "Make this new fire holy, and inflame us with new hope."

"Let us now listen attentively to the word of God, recalling how he saved his people throughout history and, in the fullness of time, sent his own Son to be our Redeemer."

Sister Lynn Marie and Sister Therese

singing the Creation story from Genesis

 "Bless this water: it makes the seed to grow, it refreshes us and makes us clean."



 

 "May the light of Christ, rising in     glory, dispel the darkness

of our hearts and minds."





"Christ has become our
paschal sacrifice;
let us feast
with the unleavened bread
of sincerity and truth,
ALLELUIA!!!!!
ALLELUIA!!!!!
                                   ALLELUIA!!!!!